Events

What is 5-Stand? It’s a great way to improve on your shotgun shooting skills! This combination of trap, skeet, and sporting clays affords the challenge of all three games but with less walking. Bring your friends and your favorite shotgun and experience the fun of this game. No registration required. WEATHER PERMITTING!

Registration required (all ages) Between enjoying the large variety of blooms and battling weeds and other maintenance issues, summer can be bittersweet in your gardens. Join our native landscape specialist to talk about tips and tricks to help you keep your summer garden looking and functioning it's best. Bring your questions about pruning, weeding and maintaining order in your summer garden. Participants, please meet the instructor at the front door to the Discovery Center. Face coverings are strongly encouraged.

Registration required (all ages) Let's head outdoors for a sunny and exciting day to discover the fun-filled activities and adventures that you can do in your backyard? We will be learning and exploring through play by discovering different textures, colors and shapes of nature. We will hunt and find various treasures that you may find in your backyard. Participants, please meet the instructor at the pavilion on the south side of the Discovery Center. Face coverings are strongly encouraged.

Registration required (ages 16+)
Join a naturalist to learn about a primitive hunting method that helped bring home dinner. Today atlatl is remerging, and in Missouri is an approved hunting method during alternative seasons. Participants will practice newly learned skills on targets and a 3D deer. Participants should be dressed to be outside. Water bottle and closed toe shoes are required. Participants, please meet the naturalist at the front door to the Discovery Center. Masks are strongly encouraged.

Registration required (ages 16+)
Join a naturalist to learn about a primitive hunting method that helped bring home dinner. Today atlatl is remerging, and in Missouri is an approved hunting method during alternative seasons. Participants will practice newly learned skills on targets and a 3D deer. Participants should be dressed to be outside. Water bottle and closed toe shoes are required. Participants, please meet the naturalist at the front door to the Discovery Center. Masks are strongly encouraged.

Cane poles are primitive but they are also fun and easy for anyone to use. Especially young children who aren't sure of rod and reel combos yet. Almost anyone can master a cane pole in just a few minutes.

Come out to Prairie Hollow Educational Lake, learn how to build a cane pole and then try your luck with this trusty old equipment that's been catching big fish for thousands of years. All ages are welcome and adults are encouraged to grab a pole and fish along with kids.

We'll help every child build their own cane pole during this program, then they can take their pole home for more fishing adventures after the program.

Poles, tackle, bait, coaches and a basic cane pole fishing lesson will be provided.

Fishing permits are not required for anyone fishing during this program.

All children must be accompanied by an adult and adults may fish along with the children.

Registration required (ages 9+) Catching a fish on a jig or fly that you created is a very satisfying experience. Discover the process to make jigs and flies that will catch lots of fish. This hands-on class is for beginner to intermediate levels. All materials will be provided, and participants will take home the lures they create. Face coverings are strongly encouraged.

Registration required (ages 16+) Navigate through nature; learn to read a map and how to use a compass. We'll look at topographic maps and talk about how to know where you are. We'll be using compasses in a scavenger hunt for participants to learn a new skill in navigating. Participants, please meet the instructor at the front door to the Discovery Center. Face coverings are strongly encouraged.

Registration required (all ages)
Native pollinators are amazing and vital parts of nature! Join a naturalist to search for these cool critters around the nature center, play a game to learn the 3 key parts of great bee habitat and take a native plant home (1 per household).

Lesson 2: How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families intermediate fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn to tie an improved clinch knot and how to properly secure bait on hooks. Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided.

Participants who attend all four Discover Nature-Fishing lessons together with family members will each receive a 25.00 bass Pro Shop gift card from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Program limited to children ages 5 and above. All children ages 5-15 must be

Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided. Program is limited to ages 5 and above. All children ages 5 -15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Fishing permits are NOT required to fish during this program.

Participants will be asked to maintain safe social distance from staff and other participants who are not their family members during this program.

Registration required (all ages)
While working in your gardens, have you ever seen something disappear into the grass or scurry beneath your mulch pile? More than likely, it was a member of the backyard buster squad - a multitude of 100% all-natural pest controllers. Come on in and learn who’s who.

Registration required (all ages) The ability to make rope or cordage from plant fibers is an ancient skill essential to surviving in the wilds. We will learn to make simple cordage using the same plants Native Americans harvested from Missouri wild prairies to make bowstrings, fishing nets and clothing. Presented outdoors for proper social distancing. Participants, please meet the naturalist at the pavilion on the south side of the Discovery Center. Face coverings are strongly encouraged.